Method of grinding rotary workpieces

Abstract

The grinding of successive workpieces in a surface grinding machine with automatic transport of workpieces to and from the grinding station is interrupted at preselected intervals to replace the workpiece at the grinding station with a pattern which is contacted by the sensors of a measuring device serving as a means for monitoring the diameters of workpieces in the course of the grinding operation. The thus obtained signals are indicative of the wear upon the sensors and are used as reference signals for the treatment of the next series of workpieces. The work transporting device is used to convey the pattern between the grinding station and a depository wherein the pattern is cooled during storage by the medium which is used to cool workpieces during treatment at the grinding station.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of grinding the round surfaces of rotary workpieces at a grinding station of a surface grinding machine, comprising the steps of transporting a succession of untreated and treated workpieces to and from the grinding station and locating each workpiece at the grinding station in a predetermined position; monitoring the dimensions of at least some workpieces at said station including scanning such workpieces by at least one sensor of a measuring device; and testing the measuring device at preselected intervals including delivering to the grinding station, in lieu of a workpiece, a pattern having at least one defined diameter, locating the pattern at the grinding station in said predetermined position, contacting the pattern with the sensor and generating signals denoting the position of the sensor during contact with the pattern. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing for the pattern a depository at a selected distance from the grinding station, said delivering step comprising conveying the pattern from the depository to the grinding station and further comprising the step of returning the pattern from the grinding station to the depository upon completion of said signal generating step. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transporting, conveying and returning steps are performed automatically in response to signals. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of monitoring the depository for the presence or absence of the pattern prior to said conveying step. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of monitoring the position of the pattern in the depository prior to said conveying step. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 2, wherein said transporting step includes advancing workpieces along a predetermined path and the depository for the pattern is adjacent a portion of such path. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6, wherein the depository is adjacent to that portion of said path along which the workpieces advance toward the grinding station. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 6, wherein the depository is adjacent to that portion of said path along which the workpieces advance from the grinding station. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 6, wherein the depository is adjacent to a portion of said path along which the workpieces advance toward as well as away from the grinding station. 
     
     
       10. A method of grinding the round surfaces of rotary workpieces at a grinding station of a surface grinding machine, comprising the steps of transporting a succession of untreated and treated workpieces to and from the grinding station; monitoring the dimensions of at least some workpieces at said station including scanning such workpieces by at least one sensor of a measuring device; testing the measuring device at preselected intervals including delivering to the grinding station a pattern having at least one defined diameter, contacting the pattern with the sensor and generating signals denoting the position of the sensor during contact with the pattern; establishing for the pattern a depository at a selected distance from the grinding station, said delivering step comprising conveying the pattern from the depository to the grinding station; maintaining the temperature of the pattern in the depository within a predetermined range; and returning the pattern from the grinding station to the depository upon completion of said signal generating step. 
     
     
       11. A method of grinding the round surfaces of rotary workpieces at a grinding station of a surface grinding machine, comprising the steps of transporting a succession of untreated and treated workpieces to and from the grinding station; monitoring the dimensions of at least some workpieces at said station including scanning such workpieces by at least one sensor of a measuring device; testing the measuring device at preselected intervals including delivering to the grinding station a pattern having at least one defined diameter, contacting the pattern with the sensor and generating signals denoting the position of the sensor during contact with the pattern; establishing for the pattern a depository at a selected distance from the grinding station, said delivering step comprising conveying the pattern from the depository to the grinding station; and returning the pattern from the grinding station to the depository upon completion of said signal generating step, said transporting step comprising advancing untreated workpieces to and treated workpieces from the grinding station along a predetermined path a portion of which is adjacent to the depository, said testing step further including advancing a selected untreated workpiece along said path and temporarily storing the selected workpiece in the depository not earlier than upon completion of the first stage of said conveying step, withdrawing the freshly treated workpiece from the grinding station, advancing the freshly treated workpiece to the depository while the pattern is located at the grinding station, withdrawing the selected untreated workpiece from the depository, introducing the freshly treated workpiece into the depository, advancing the withdrawn selected workpiece from the depository and delivering it to the grinding station, replacing the pattern with the selected workpiece, extracting the freshly treated workpiece from the depository, reinserting the pattern into the depository, and advancing the freshly treated workpiece along said path in a direction away from the grinding station. 
     
     
       12. Method of claim 10 wherein the removal of selected workpiece from and insertion of the freshly treated workpiece into the depository take place in the course of said contacting step. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of utilizing said signals for controlled grinding of the selected workpiece and the next-following workpieces.